Method for decarboxylating C—C cross-linking of carboxylic acids with carbon electrophiles

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for decarboxylating C—C bond formation by reacting carboxylic salts with carbon electrophiles in the presence of transition metal compounds as catalysts. The method represents a decarboxylating C—C bond formation of carboxylic acid salts with carbon electrophiles, wherein the catalyst contains two transition metals and/or transition metal compounds, from which one is present, preferably, in the oxidation step, which are different from each other by one unit, and catalyzes a radical decarboxylation which is absorbed during the second oxidation steps, which are different from each other by two units and catalyzes the two electron processes of a C—C bond formation reaction.

This application is a 371 of PCT/DE2006/001014, filed May 10, 2006, which claims foreign priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of the German Patent Application No. 10 2005 022 362.1 filed May 10, 2005.

The invention relates to a process for C—C bond formation of carbon nucleophiles which are formed by decarboxylation from carboxylic acid salts with carbon electrophiles in the presence of transition metal catalysts.

The biaryl substructure is a key functionality in functional materials, pharmaceuticals and crop protection preparations. For the synthesis of such compounds, the Suzuki coupling of aryl halides with boronic acids in particular is utilized, since it can be performed in a simple manner and in excellent yields, and many functional groups and substitution patterns are tolerated. Of particular interest is the compound 2-nitro-4′-chlorobiphenyl, an intermediate in the preparation of the fungicide boscalid. Its industrial preparation is shown in scheme 1 as an example of a Suzuki coupling.

Especially for industrial applications, this procedure, however, has serious disadvantages owing to the difficult obtainability and the resulting high cost of boronic acids. Their synthesis by metallating vinyl and aryl halides and subsequently reacting with trialkyl borates is complicated and not compatible with all functional groups. More widely usable are catalytic cross-coupling reactions of organohalides with diboron compounds, but they find barely any industrial use owing to the high cost of this compound. The preparation of boronic acids from pinacol- or catecholborane is also industrially not very attractive owing to the high costs.

Other biaryl syntheses are distinctly inferior to the Suzuki coupling with regard to yield, performability and application breadth. For example, the Scholl reaction, in which two arenas are reacted with one another in the presence of a Lewis acid and of a Brønsted acid, affords generally only unsatisfactory yields and is compatible only with a few functional groups. The same applies to the Gomberg-Bachmann reaction. More widely usable is the Ullmann reaction, in which two aryl iodides are coupled to one another in the presence of copper compounds, but only the synthesis of symmetric compounds succeeds in satisfactory yield.

Catalytic cross-coupling reactions with magnesium aryls, zinc aryls or lithium aryls are less advantageous than the Suzuki reaction owing to the difficult handling of these compounds and their low compatibility with functional groups. Only arylsiloxanes and the toxic arylstannanes exhibit similarly good properties such as arylboronic acids, but the preparation of these compounds also gives rise to the same problems.

There is thus a need for novel cross-coupling reactions proceeding from carbon nucleophiles which are notable for good availability and handling, and a low cost. Metal salts of carboxylic acids are widely available and are therefore ideal starting materials. A coupling reaction in which organometallic species are generated in situ by decarboxylating carboxylic acid salts and coupled to carbon electrophiles is therefore of high interest, especially when they can also be utilized to obtain biaryls.

To date, there is only one example of a related reaction, in which the pyrolysis of copper carboxylates in the presence of excess aryl halide, as a constituent of a complex reaction mixture, forms the corresponding biaryl among other products. The extreme temperatures (240° C.), the low yields, the large amounts of copper salts and the restricted substrate range, however, make this reaction unsuitable for commercial utilization.

It was an object of the present invention to develop a generally employable, catalytic process for cross-coupling carbon nucleophiles with carbon electrophiles, in which the carbon nucleophiles are formed in situ by decarboxylating metal carboxylates. The particular difficulty consisted in the finding of a suitable catalyst system, since a decarboxylation of carboxylic acids is effected typically via a free-radical mechanism, while the reason for the efficiency of cross-coupling catalysts is that they selectively promote only two-electron processes and suppress free-radical reaction steps.

The present invention provides a process for decarboxylating C—C bond formation by reacting carboxylic acid salts with carbon electrophiles in the presence of transition metals or transition metal compounds as a catalyst.

It has been found that, surprisingly, a catalyst system which comprises two or more metal compounds can very efficiently catalyze the decarboxylating cross-coupling of carboxylic acid salts with carbon electrophiles according to scheme 2.

The catalyst system preferably comprises at least two different transition metal compounds. Particularly suitable systems are those in which the first transition metal can assume oxidation states which differ by one unit, and the second can assume oxidation states which differ from one another by two units. It is assumed that the first transition metal catalyzes a free-radical decarboxylation, while the second catalyzes the two-electron processes of a cross-coupling reaction. Surprisingly, these simultaneous catalytic processes do not disrupt one another; it is suspected that the catalyst components mutually enhance their action, such that the decarboxylation step, even in the case of extremely small amounts of catalyst, proceeds even at unprecedentedly low temperatures.

When two or more different transition metals or transition metal compounds are used, depending on the substrate used, it is possible to use the first metal compound as the first catalyst component in stoichiometric amounts and the second metal or metal compound as the second catalyst component in catalytic amounts.

Additionally found has been a process in which this catalyst system is used, which is characterized in that carboxylic acid salts are converted to carbon nucleophiles with extrusion of carbon dioxide and linked to carbon electrophiles to form a C—C bond.

What is advantageous over the prior art described is that carboxylic acid salts are much less expensive, more readily available and easier to handle than organometallic compounds, for example boronic acids. The advantages of the novel catalyst over that described by Nilsson arise from the fact that the inventive catalyst system is formed by adding a second metal component which specifically catalyzes the cross-coupling. In this way, a much greater substrate breadth can be converted at much lower temperatures in unprecedented high selectivities and yields. In addition, only catalytic amounts of transition metals are required, while the process of Nilsson absolutely requires stoichiometric amounts of copper.

The inventive catalyst system preferably comprises two metal components. The first component preferably comprises metal which can assume two oxidation states which differ by one unit, preferably from the group of Ag (0,I), Cu (0,I,II), Mn (II,III), Fe (II,III), Co (II,III), Ni (II,III), Mo (IV,V), Ru (II,III) (examples of suitable combinations of oxidation states in brackets). The metal may, as desired, be used in elemental form, as a complex or as a salt. Particular preference is given to using copper or silver compounds, and very particular preference to using copper(I) compounds.

The second component is characterized in that it contains a metal which can assume two oxidation states which differ by two units, preferably from the group of Pd (0,II), Ni (0,II), Fe (−II,0,II), Au (I,III), Rh (I,III), Pt (0,II,IV), Ru (0,II), Ir (I,III) (examples of suitable combinations of oxidation states in brackets). The metal may, as desired, be used in elemental form, as a complex or as a salt. Particular preference is given to using platinum group metals, very particular preference to using palladium compounds and even greater preference to using palladium(II) acetylacetonate.

The two metals may each independently, if desired, be stabilized by further ligands, preferably from the group of amines, phosphines, N-heterocyclic carbenes, nitriles or olefins. Particular preference is given to using cyclic amines as ligands; very particular preference is given to using chelating cyclic amines from the group of phenanthroline, bipyridine and terpyridine or their substituted derivatives.

The actual catalysts can optionally be obtained in the reaction mixture from suitable metal precursors by the addition of the components listed above.

In the process according to the invention, it is possible to use carboxylic acid salts of the general formula I where n, m, q, p are numbers from 1 to 6 and r is a number from 0 to 6.

The counterion M^((n+)) is either a metal cation, preferably from the group of the metals Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, B, Al, Ag, Cu, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Mo, Ru or an organic cation, preferably from the group of ammonium, pyridinium, phosphonium. It may be possible for a further anion to be coordinated in addition to the carboxylate, preferably from the group of I⁻, Br⁻, Cl⁻, F⁻, CO₃ ⁻, CN⁻, OH⁻, OAlkyl⁻, HCO₃ ⁻, PO₄ ³⁻, HPO₄ ²⁻, H₂PO₄ ⁻.

The carboxylic acid salts are either added in preformed form or generated in situ from the carboxylic acids and suitable bases.

The substituent R is an organic radical and can preferably be selected from the group of linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₂₀-alkyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₂₀-alkenyl, and also C₆-C₂₀-aryl and heteroaryl from the group of pyridine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, pyrazine, triazine, tetrazine, pyrrole, pyrazole, isoxazole, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, thiophene, furan, and may in turn bear further substituents from the group of linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₂₀-alkenyl, and also C₆-C₁₀-aryl and heteroaryl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyloxy or C₁-C₁₀-aryloxy, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyl- or C₁-C₁₀-arylaminocarbonyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-acyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-dialkylamino, C₁-C₁₀-arylamino, formyl, oxo, thio, hydroxyl, carboxyl, nitro, cyano, nitroso, and halogens such as F, Cl, Br and I.

R can more preferably be selected from the group of linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₁₀-alkenyl, C₆-C₁₀-aryl or heteroaryl from the group of pyridine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, pyrazine, triazine, tetrazine, pyrrole, pyrazole, isoxazole, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, thiophene, furan, and may in turn bear further substituents as described in the preceding paragraph. R¹—X  (II)

In the carbon electrophile R¹—X (formula II), the substituent X is a common leaving group and can preferably be selected from the group of: halides and pseudohalides from the group of toluenesulfonate, methylsulfonate, trifluorosulfonate, trifluoroacetate, carboxylate and [N₂]⁺.

In the process according to the invention, the substituent R¹ of the carbon electrophile (formula II) is an organic radical and can preferably be selected from the group of linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₂₀-alkyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₂₀-alkenyl, and also C₆-C₂₀-aryl and heteroaryl from the group of pyridine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, pyrazine, triazine, tetrazine, pyrrole, pyrazole, isoxazole, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, thiophene, furan, and may in turn bear further substituents from the group of linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₂₀-alkenyl, and also C₆-C₁₀-aryl and heteroaryl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyloxy or C₁-C₁₀-aryloxy, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyl- or C₁-C₁₀-arylaminocarbonyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-acyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-dialkylamino, C₁-C₁₀-arylamino, formyl, oxo, thio, hydroxyl, carboxyl, nitro, cyano, nitroso, and halogens such as F, Cl, Br and I.

R¹ can more preferably be selected from the group of linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₁₀-alkenyl, C₆-C₁₀-aryl or heteroaryl from the group of pyridine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, pyrazine, triazine, tetrazine, pyrrole, pyrazole, isoxazole, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, thiophene, furan, and may in turn bear further substituents as described in the preceding paragraph.

Alternatively, the carbon electrophile may be a carbonyl derivative, preferably from the group of carbonyl chloride, carboxylic anhydride, aldehyde, ketone, ester, α,β-unsaturated aldehyde, α,β-unsaturated ketone, α,β-unsaturated ester.

In the process according to the invention, the two catalysts are each independently used in amounts of from 0.001 mol % to 100 mol % based on the carbon electrophile; preference is given to using amounts of from 0.001 mol % to 10 mol % and particular preference to amounts of from 0.01 mol % to 5 mol %.

The process according to the invention is performed at temperatures of from 20° C. to 220° C., preferably at from 80° C. to 200° C. and more preferably at from 120° C. to 160° C.

The process according to the invention can be performed in the presence of a solvent or in substance. For example, the solvent used may be one of the feedstocks, linear, cyclic and branched hydrocarbons (for example hexanes, heptanes and octanes), aromatic hydrocarbons (for example benzene, toluene, xylenes, ethylbenzene, mesitylene), ethers (for example 1,4-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, methyltetrahydrofuran, dibutyl ether, methyl t-butyl ether, diisopropyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether), esters (for example ethyl acetate, butyl acetate), amides (for example dimethylformamide, diethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylacetamide), dimethyl sulfoxide, sulfolane, acetonitrile, isobutyronitrile, propionitrile, propylene carbonate and chlorinated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Preference is given to using dimethylformamide, diethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylacetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, sulfolane, acetonitrile and propylene carbonate.

The process according to the invention is preferably performed by removing traces of water during the reaction by customary methods, for example by distillation or by addition of water-binding media.

The present invention further provides a catalyst system for decarboxylating C—C bond formation of carboxylic acid salts with carbon electrophiles, consisting of two transition metals or transition metal compounds and an optionally substituted chelating cyclic amine from the group of phenanthroline, bipyridine and terpyridine. The transition metals are preferably selected from the so-called noble metals, especially from palladium or palladium compounds and copper or a copper compound.

Examples 1-18

It is evident from Examples 1-18 that a combination of copper(II) carbonate and palladium-phosphine complexes at particularly low temperatures of 120° achieves excellent yields of cross-coupling products. The transition metal compounds used are reduced to lower oxidation states in the reaction mixture. It is assumed that copper is present as Cu(I) compounds and palladium as Pd(0).

According to Table 1, in each case 1.5 mmol of o-nitrobenzoic acid were first deprotonated with a stoichiometric amount of the base. The resulting carboxylic acid salt was stirred with 1.0 mmol of 4-chloro-1-bromobenzene in the presence of a palladium(II) salt (0.02 mmol), optionally a ligand (0.06 mmol) and/or an additive (1.5 mmol) in 3 ml of a solvent at 120° C. for 24 h. In some cases, the reaction mixture was dried by adding 500 mg of molecular sieves (3 Å). The yields were determined with the aid of gas chromatography using n-tetradecane as an internal standard.

Example Pd source Ligand Solvent Base Additive Yield (%) 1 Pd(acac)₂ PPh₃ NMP CuCO₃ — 9 2 PdCl₂ PPh₃ NMP CuCO₃ — 3 3 Pd(OAc)₂ PPh₃ NMP CuCO₃ — 5 4 Pd(acac)₂ PPh₃ NMP CuCO₃ KBr 14 5 Pd(acac)₂ PPh₃ NMP CuCO₃ NaF 16 6 Pd(acac)₂ PPh₃ NMP CuCO₃ LiF 15 7 Pd(acac)₂ PPh₃ NMP CuCO₃ KF 32 8 Pd(acac)₂ PPh₃ NMP CuCO₃ KF/3 Å MS 84 9 Pd(acac)₂ BINAP NMP CuCO₃ KF/3 Å MS 76 10 Pd(acac)₂ DPPF NMP CuCO₃ KF/3 Å MS 70 11 Pd(acac)₂ P(p-MeOPh)₃ NMP CuCO₃ KF/3 Å MS 71 12 Pd(acac)₂ P(Cy)₃ NMP CuCO₃ KF/3 Å MS 60 13 Pd(acac)₂ Bipyridine NMP CuCO₃ KF/3 Å MS 35 14 Pd(acac)₂ P(i-propyl)Ph₂ NMP CuCO₃ KF/3 Å MS 98 15 Pd(acac)₂ P(i-propyl)Ph₂ NMP Ag₂CO₃ KF/3 Å MS 45 16 Pd(acac)₂ P(i-propyl)Ph₂ DMSO CuCO₃ KF/3 Å MS 69 17 Pd(acac)₂ P(i-propyl)Ph₂ DMPU CuCO₃ KF/3 Å MS 62 18 Pd(acac)₂ P(i-propyl)Ph₂ Diglyme CuCO₃ KF/3 Å MS 40

Examples 19-25

It is evident from Examples 19-25, Table 2, that, in a second process variant, the reaction of potassium carboxylates generated in situ with aryl halides, even with exceptionally small amounts of catalyst systems consisting of copper(I) salts, palladium(II) salts and amine ligands proceeds in high efficiency. In each case 1.5 mmol of o-nitrobenzoic acid were first deprotonated with a stoichiometric amount of potassium carbonate and the water of reaction was removed by distillation. The resulting carboxylic acid salt was then stirred with 1.0 mmol of 4-chloro-1-bromobenzene in the presence of 0.02 mmol of palladium(II) acetylacetonate, the specified amount of copper(I) halide and the specified amount of the amine ligand in NMP at 160° C. for 24 h. Any remaining moisture was bound by the addition of 500 mg of molecular sieves (3 Å). The yields were determined with the aid of gas chromatography using n-tetradecane as an internal standard.

TABLE 2 Pd(acac)₂ Cu salt Yield Example (mmol) Ligand (mmol) (mmol) (%) 19 0.02 Dipyridyl (0.1) CuI (0.1) 99 20 0.02 Dipyridyl (0.1) CuBr (0.1) 95 21 0.02 Dipyridyl (0.1) CuCl (0.1) 95 22 0.02 4,4′-Dimethyl-2,2′- CuI (0.1) 98 dipyridyl (0.1) 23 0.02 Phenanthroline (0.1) CuI (0.1) 99 24 0.01 Phenanthroline (0.05) CuI (0.03) 97 25 0.005 Phenanthroline (0.05) CuI (0.01) 80

Examples 26-55

Examples 26-55 from Table 3, which were performed according to scheme 5 on a scale of 1 mmol, demonstrate the wide applicability of the process according to the invention. To determine the yields, after aqueous workup, the products were chromatographed on silica gel and characterized unambiguously with the aid of NMR, MS, HRMS.

TABLE 3 Yield R R¹ Conditions (%) 26

Pd(acac)₂ (0.02 mmol), CuCO₃ (1.5 mmol), P(isopropyl)Ph₂ (0.06 mmol), KF (1.5 mmol), molecular sieves (3 Å, 500 mg), NMP (3 ml), 120°, 24 h 98 27

Pd(acac)₂ (0.02 mmol), CuCO₃ (1.5 mmol), P(isopropyl)Ph₂ (0.06 mmol), KF (1.5 mmol), molecular sieves (3 Å, 500 mg), NMP (3 ml), 120°, 24 h 96 28

Pd(acac)₂ (0.02 mmol), CuCO₃ (1.5 mmol), P(isopropyl)Ph₂ (0.06 mmol), KF (1.5 mmol), molecular sieves (3 Å, 500 mg), NMP (3 ml), 120°, 24 h 97 29

Pd(acac)₂ (0.02 mmol), CuCO₃ (1.5 mmol), P(isopropyl)Ph₂ (0.06 mmol), KF (1.5 mmol), molecular sieves (3 Å, 500 mg), NMP (3 ml), 120°, 24 h 79 30

see Example 29 82 31

see Example 29 95 32

see Example 29 86 33

see Example 29 97 34

see Example 29 93 35

see Example 29 94 36

see Example 29 88 37

see Example 29 93 38

see Example 29 80 39

see Example 29 86 40

see Example 29 85 41

see Example 29 95 42

see Example 29 94 43

Pd(acac)₂ (0.02 mmol), CuI (1.2 mmol), dipyridyl (0.1 mmol), K₂CO₃ (1.2 mmol), molecular sieves (3 Å, 500 mg), NMP (3 ml), 160°, 24 h 82 44

Pd(acac)₂ (0.02 mmol), CuCO₃ (1.5 mmol), P(isopropyl)Ph₂ (0.06 mmol), KF (1.5 mmol), NMP (3 ml), 160°, 24 h 46 45

see Example 44 82 46

see Example 44 85 47

see Example 44 88 48

see Example 43 97 49

see Example 43 82 50

see Example 43 83 51

see Example 43 91 52

see Example 43 30 53

see Example 43 29 54

see Example 43 60 55

see Example 43 70

Examples with a Catalytic Amount of Copper and a Catalytic Amount of Palladium

Examples 56-71 from Table 4, which were performed according to scheme 5 with 1 mmol of aryl bromide and 1.2 mmol of carboxylic acid, demonstrate that the two transition metals are required only in catalytic amounts irrespective of the substrates. To determine the yields, after aqueous workup, the products were chromatographed on silica gel and characterized unambiguously with the aid of NMR, MS, HRMS.

Yield R R¹ Conditions (%) 56

Cs₂CO₃ (1.2 mmol), CuCl (0.15 mmol), Pd(acac)₂ (0.02 mmol), 1,10- phenanthroline (0.3 mmol), PPh₃ (0.04 mmol), molecular sieves (3 Å, 250 mg) 66 57

Cs₂CO₃ (1.2 mmol), CuCl (0.10 mmol), Pd(acac)₂ (0.02 mmol), 1,10- phenanthroline (0.2 mmol), PPh₃ (0.06 mmol), molecular sieves (3 Å, 250 mg) 67 58

K₂CO₃ (1.2 mmol), CuCl (0.10 mmol), Pd(acac)₂ (0.02 mmol), 1,10- phenanthroline (0.1 mmol), PPh₃ (0.06 mmol), molecular sieves (3 Å, 250 mg) 65 59

see Example 56 91 60

see Example 56 28 61

see Example 24 with 0.1 mmol of CuI 98 62

see Example 24 99 63

see Example 24 93 64

see Example 24 93 65

see Example 24 from the aryl chloride 96 66

see Example 24 68 67

see Example 24 78 68

see Example 24 97 69

see Example 24 98 70

see Example 24 74 71

see Example 24 77 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A process for decarboxylating and C—C bond formation comprising reacting carboxylic acid salts with carbon electrophiles in the presence of a catalyst system to achieve decarboxylating C—C bond forming cross-coupling, said catalyst system comprising first and second transition metal compounds and one or more ligands; wherein the carboxylic acid salts are selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid salts of the Formula 1 where n, m, q, p are numbers from 1 to 6 and r is a number from 0 to 6; M^((m+)) is a cation of a metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, B, Al, Ag, Cu, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Mo, and Ru; R is selected from the group consisting of linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₂₀-alkenyl, and also C₆-C₂₀-aryl and heteroaryl selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, tetrazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiophenyl and furanyl, and may in turn bear further substituents selected from the group consisting of linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₂₀-alkenyl, and also C₆-C₁₀-aryl and heteroaryl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyloxy or C₁-C₁₀-aryloxy, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyl- or C₁-C₁₀-arylaminocarbonyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-acyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-dialkylamino, C₁-C₁₀-arylamino, formyl, thio, hydroxyl, carboxyl, nitro, cyano, nitroso, and halogens; and Y^((p−)) is an anion:

wherein the carbon electrophiles are selected from the group consisting of carbon electrophiles of the formula formula R¹—X where R¹ is selected from the group consisting of linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₂₀-alkenyl, and also C₆-C₂₀-aryl and heteroaryl selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, tetrazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiophenyl and furanyl, and may in turn bear further substituents from the group of linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₂₀-alkenyl, and also C₆-C₁₀-aryl and heteroaryl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyloxy or C₁-C₁₀-aryloxy, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyl- or C₁-C₁₀-arylaminocarbonyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-acyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-dialkylamino, C₁-C₁₀-arylamino, formyl, oxo, thio, hydroxyl, carboxyl, nitro, cyano, nitroso, and halogens; and X is selected from the group consisting of halides selected from the group consisting of I, Br, and Cl, and pseudohalides selected from the group consisting of toluenesulfonate, methylsulfonate, trifluorosulfonate, trifluoroacetate, carboxylate and [N₂]⁺; wherein the first transition metal compound is selected from the group consisting of copper compounds; wherein the second transition metal compound is selected from the group consisting of palladium compounds; wherein the one or more ligands are selected from the group consisting of amines, phosphines, N-heterocyclic carbenes, nitriles and olefins; provided that if R represents aryl or heteroaryl, then R¹ is not vinyl.
 2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second transition metal compound is palladium(II) acetylacetonate.
 3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cyclic amine is used as the ligand.
 4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ligand is an optionally substituted chelating cyclic amine selected from the group consisting of phenanthroline, bipyridine and terpyridine.
 5. The process as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises employing mutually independent amounts of the two catalysts of from 0.001 mol % to 100 mol % based on the carbon electrophile.
 6. The process as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises employing mutually independent amounts of the two catalysts of from 0.01 mol % to 5 mol % based on the carbon electrophile.
 7. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substituent R is selected from the group consisting of linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₂₀-alkenyl, and also C₆-C₂₀-aryl and heteroaryl selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, tetrazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiophenyl and furanyl, and may in turn bear further substituents selected from the group consisting of linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₂₀-alkenyl, and also C₆-C₁₀-aryl and heteroaryl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyloxy or C₁-C₁₀-aryloxy, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyl- or C₁-C₁₀-arylaminocarbonyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-acyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-dialkylamino, arylamino, formyl, thio, hydroxyl, carboxyl, nitro, cyano, nitroso, and halogens.
 8. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substituent R¹ of the carbon electrophile is selected from the group consisting of linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₂₀-alkenyl, and also C₆-C₂₀-aryl and heteroaryl selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, triazinyl, tetrazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiophenyl and furanyl, and may in turn bear further substituents selected from the group consisting of linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₂-C₂₀-alkenyl, and also C₆-C₁₀-aryl and heteroaryl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyloxy or C₁-C₁₀-aryloxy, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-alkyl- or C₁-C₁₀-arylaminocarbonyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-acyl, linear, branched and cyclic C₁-C₁₀-dialkylamino, C₁-C₁₀-arylamino, formyl, oxo, thio, hydroxyl, carboxyl, nitro, cyano, nitroso, and halogens.
 9. The process as claimed in claim 1, which is carried out at a reaction temperature of from 80° C. to 200° C.
 10. The process as claimed in claim 1, which is carried out at a reaction temperature of from 120° C. to 160° C.
 11. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein traces of water are removed during the reaction.
 12. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carbon electrophile is a carbonyl derivative selected from the group consisting of carbonyl chloride, carboxylic anhydride, aldehyde, ketone, ester, α,β-unsaturated aldehyde, α,β-unsaturated ketone, and α,β-unsaturated ester. 